Carpinus betulus Pendula - Hornbeam

Carpinus betulus 'Pendula' is an old variety of common hornbeam that stands out for its weeping habit. It is a grafted tree, meaning its height varies depending on the graft height. It will look very nice as a standalone tree, in a garden border, or integrated into a flowerbed. Its green, corrugated and toothed leaves turn orange-yellow in autumn and persist for a long time on grey-brown branches before falling. This vigorous hornbeam is very hardy and resistant, really easy to grow.

Carpinus betulus, sometimes called hornbeam, is a tree native to forests in Europe and Asia Minor (Turkey and Ukraine) with a pyramidal habit that becomes rounder over time. Its straight trunk is covered with a pale grey to grey-green bark. It is smooth in young hornbeams and cracks as it ages. Its flowers are monoecious, either male or female, with a slightly different appearance and emerging in autumn (male catkins) and spring (female catkins). Carpinus betulus produces pendulous clusters of fruits measuring 3 to 6cm (1.2 to 2.4in) long, green in colour, which turn yellow-brown when mature, in late September. These fruits are called samaras and are toxic.

The variety 'Pendula' is an old French variety that stands out from the typical species with its weeping, rounded, spreading, and dense habit. Its dark, grey-brown branches bear foliage composed of oval and toothed leaves, measuring 8 to 10cm (3.1 to 3.9in) long. Its colour is a bright green from spring to summer, turning orange-yellow in autumn.

The 'Pendula' hornbeam is a very hardy and undemanding plant, adapting to any sufficiently deep soil, even dry, and suitable for urban environments. It is mainly used as a standalone tree in the middle of a short grass meadow, in a garden border, or integrated into a flowerbed.

The wood of the common hornbeam is used for heating, papermaking, and even for making tools and toys for children. It is a bush that rarely exceeds 100 years in nature.